October 2012

BOOK DISCUSSION SCHEDULE

THU

OCT. 25

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

McDowell Center

VT 550

Panel Discussion

MON

OCT. 29

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Bradner Library

L 105

TUE

OCT. 30

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Bradner Library

L 105

ABOUT THE BOOK

Oedipa
Maas is made the executor of the estate of her late boyfriend, Pierce
Inverarity. As she carries out her duties, Oedipa finds herself enmeshed in a
worldwide conspiracy, meets some extremely interesting characters, and attains
a not inconsiderable amount of self-knowledge. The novel is often classified as
a notable example of postmodern fiction. TIME included the novel in its list of
100 Best English-Language Novels published from 1923 to 2005.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas Ruggles Pynchon, Jr. (b. 1937) is an American writer based
in New York City, noted for his dense and complex works of fiction. Hailing
from Long Island, Pynchon spent two years in the United States Navy and earned
an English degree from Cornell University. After publishing several short
stories in the late 1950s and early 1960s, he began composing the novels for
which he is best known today: V.
(1963), The Crying of Lot 49 (1966), Gravity’s Rainbow (1973), Vineland (1990), Mason & Dixon (1997), and Against
the Day (2006). Pynchon is regarded by many readers and critics as one of
the finest contemporary authors. He is a MacArthur Fellow and a recipient of
the National Book Award, and is regularly cited as a contender for the Nobel
Prize in Literature. Both his fiction and non-fiction writings encompass a vast
array of subject matter, styles, and themes, including (but not limited to) the
fields of history, science, and mathematics. Pynchon is also known for his
avoidance of personal publicity; very few photographs of him have ever been
published, and rumors about his location and identity have been circulated
since the 1960s.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Questions from ReadersPlace.com:1. Thomas
Pynchon deliberately wrote in a way that defied interpretation. How and to what
effect is the problem of interpretation focused on in The Crying of Lot 49?

2. Why does Pynchon leave Oedipa’s quest unresolved?

3. Discuss the importance of historic references in the novel.

4.The Crying of Lot 49 does
not have any evident plot. Is this true?

5. Consider Pynchon’s use of names in the novel. Do they fit their
characters? If not, why not?

6. There are many references to communication in the novel. Why do you
think communication is so important in The
Crying of Lot 49?

7. At one point in The Crying of
Lot 49, Oedipa begins to wonder if someone is “putting her on,” or if she
is going mad. Which do you think it is?

8. The reader never finds out who is the buyer of Lot 49. Who do you
think it could be?

9. How does Oedipa change over the course of the novel? How does her
social situation change?

10. Discuss the ending of the novel. Do you feel that there is any sense
of resolution?

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE BOOK?

We would like to hear from you! What did you think of The Crying of Lot 49?Please e-mail your thoughts, comments, and questions to: erybicka@schoolcraft.edu.